Why Proper Drying Out Matters More Than You Believe
Water-proof tent fabrics-- whether coated with polyurethane (PU), silicone (silnylon), or a laminated membrane layer like Gore-Tex-- are crafted to drive away moisture while allowing breathability. However these finishes are not indestructible.
When a wet camping tent is stored, dampness obtains trapped against the material. Over time, this urges mildew and mold and mildew development, which not only creates unpleasant odors yet proactively breaks down the water-proof finish. The fragile seam tape, which keeps water from leaking with stitch holes, is particularly prone to duplicated wetness exposure without proper drying. A tent that's packed away wet continuously will flake, peel off, and fall short much sooner than one that's taken care of after every use.
Step-by-Step: The Right Way to Dry Your Outdoor tents
Shake Off Excess Water First
Prior to anything else, offer your outdoor tents a good shake. Remove the poles and stakes, then hold the body of the tent and shake it firmly to remove pooled water from the fly, vestibule, and any low-lying areas. This straightforward action dramatically decreases drying time.
Set It Up If You Can
The most effective method to dry a water resistant camping tent is to pitch it completely-- or at least spread it out loosely-- to ensure that air can flow around every surface. If you're back home, set it up in your backyard, on an outdoor patio, and even in a big garage with the doors open. This allows both the inner outdoor tents and the external fly to dry at the same time.
Avoid bunching or folding the tent while it's still damp. Folds up catch dampness and develop precisely the conditions you're trying to avoid.
Select the Right Drying Location
Shade is your best friend when drying water-proof outdoor tents materials. Direct sunlight might appear like an effective choice, but UV rays are harming to the majority of outdoor tents coverings and ripstop nylon over time. Long term sunlight exposure degrades the DWR (durable water repellent) coating and deteriorates synthetic fibers.
Look for a place that gets good air movement and indirect light. Under a tree canopy, inside a well-ventilated garage, or on a protected patio are all excellent alternatives. If you have a drying shelf inside your home, curtain the camping tent freely over it and open close-by windows to motivate air movement.
Do Not Make Use Of Warm Sources
It could be appealing to toss the outdoor tents in a clothes dryer, hang it above a radiator, or lay it in straight sunlight to speed up things up-- withstand this desire. Excessive warmth warps camping tent poles, melts glue seam tape, and can cause the water resistant coating to bubble and peel. Constantly air-dry at ambient temperature.
Dry the Outdoor Tents Bag and Stakes As Well
It's very easy to ignore the storage space bag and tent risks, but both can nurture moisture. Transform the storage bag completely and allow it air dry entirely. Wipe your risks completely dry and allow them to air out before saving to avoid rust on metal selections.
What to Do When You Can't Dry It Properly After a Journey
In some cases you're leaving camp in the rain, or you remain in a rush at the end of a trip. If you have to load a wet outdoor tents, do so loosely-- never ever press or roll it firmly when damp. As soon as you're home, your initial priority must be getting it unpacked and spread out to completely dry, ideally within a few hours.
A Quick Area Tip
If you're mid-trip and need to pack up a damp tent for transport to your following campground, load the damp fly independently from the inner tent making use of a different stuff sack or a trash can. This stops wetness from transferring to the completely dry inner and makes setting up for the evening drying procedure much easier.
Storing Your Outdoor tents After It's Completely Dry
Once your tent is totally dry-- and it must be totally dry, not just surface-dry-- store it freely. Lasting compression in a tiny stuff sack can crease and fracture the water resistant layer. A big cotton or mesh bag works well for home storage space, keeping the textile unwinded and allowing any kind of residual air movement.
Deal with drying as part of the journey itself, not an afterthought. A couple of additional minutes of treatment every single time you return from the outdoors will extend your outdoor tents's life camping gear by years and keep its waterproofing executing when you need it most.
